In Vitro Effects of Metronidazole and Albendazole on Giardia lamblia Isolated from Iranian Patients

Background: the aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of metronidazole and albendazole against clinical isolates of giardia lamblia in vitro.methods: from all human samples of containing cysts, 10 isolates were successfully excysted in vitro. trophozites viability was assessed by eosine 0.1% and cultured axenically in tyi-s-33 modified medium supplemented with heat inactivated bovine serum 10%. all cultures were incubated in 37°c for 24-48 h. after this time trophozoites were exposed to different concentration (0.05, 0.1, 2, 10, 50 jug/ml) of drugs at 37° for 4 h. the ic50 estimated between 0.1 and lo^g/ml for metronidazole and 0.062 and 0.1 jig/ml for albendazole.results: eight isolates were found susceptible to the metronidazole while all isolates were found susceptible to the albendazole. statistical results indicated that there was significant difference (p<0.05) in the sensitivity to metronidazole and albendazole in all isolates. conclusion: the killing affects of albendazole on g. lamblia was greater than metronidazole.